C.M. Khurana, chief general manager, India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL), oversees its credit operations and infrastructure sector investments, including renewable energy. His career, spanning over 38 years, began as a probationary officer with the Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC). After working in multiple locations and in various positions at OBC, he superannuated in 2014 as chief general manager. He has been associated with several committees for the formulation of schemes and guidelines for infrastructure spending. He took over his current role in 2015.
Khurana believes that the renewable energy segment is set to embark on a higher growth trajectory, which is partly owing to the availability of financing on better terms. Banking institutions are now lending money at lower interest rates for longer tenors for green projects. Besides the traditional financial institutions, innovative debt instruments such as green bonds, masala bonds and InvITs are also being explored increasingly. Meanwhile, the scope of specific mutual fund-based investments for infrastructure projects such as infrastructure debt funds and national investment funds is growing.
The period 2011-14, when he was in charge of large corporate credit operations at OBC, is particularly memorable for him. The post-recession period made credit operations management very difficult, requiring him to devise innovative mechanisms to tackle the challenges. Successful completion of these projects is, therefore, one of the major achievements of Khurana’s professional journey.
His management style is collaborative and customer-centric. He believes in working with his team and clients as a single unit, collaborating and consulting at each step to deliver optimum results. His professional success is an outcome of his analytical approach, knowledge of practical issues and ground reality.
Khurana has a master’s in economics from the Delhi School of Economics along with a professional degree in law from Delhi University and a degree from the Certified Association of Indian Institute of Bankers. He contributes to various professional magazines and is regular guest faculty at several management schools. Khurana is a voracious reader and enjoys books on spirituality and management sciences. He likes to spend his spare time with his family, which includes his wife, who superannuated as head of a senior secondary school, and his son, an MNC executive.